response

Advent - Joy

For the final Sunday of Advent, Lauren Roman wrote and delivered a call to worship that reminded us of the great joy Jesus brings.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

We’ve sung this song so many times, for so many years … most of us know the words by heart … but what are we singing? What are we saying? What are we praying with these words? 

Let earth receive her king!

As we rejoice over the birth of our Savior, are we praying for the earth to receive her King? That every nation, tribe and tongue would know Him as Lord and rejoice with us?

Let every heart prepare Him room!

Have we prepared Him room in our hearts? Maybe we’ve prepared our rooms for Christmas … with gifts and lights and decorations … nativity scenes … from which we have removed the wise men … but has every heart prepared room for Emmanuel, God with us?

And heaven and nature sing!

We join all creation as we rejoice … with praise so great that our song would fill the earth and rise to the very throne of the Father, joining with the angels!

Joy to the world!

That’s the joy I want this Christmas. That’s the joy I want every day of my life! That’s the joy Jesus brings!
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)

So let us walk as children of light …
“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalm 95:2)

Let us sing of His truth, His grace, the glories of His righteousness… The wonders of His unfailing love… let our praises ring loud for generations, echoing throughout creation, that it would repeat the sounding joy!

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!

Guest Blogger :: Adam Moritz

HAPPY BLENDED HOLIDAY

When I was a child (or young’n, as they say down here in Tennessee) we had distinct seasons.

I’m not talking about winter, spring, summer, and fall.

I’m talking about holiday seasons.

For whatever reason, it seemed like there was actually a marketing pause between holidays.

But now….now there is a distinct climate change.

Blame my carbon footprint if you must, but there is a noticeable “global warming” of holiday merchandising.

And by “global” I mean “American”.

It started slowly.

Halloween decorations started showing up in stores around, say, late September.  Thanksgiving had a nice long run from November 1st until we all woke up from our turkey-induced comas.

Christmas always enjoyed a pleasantly festive hoorah.  Or, if you were Jewish, like my family, you had eight whole days of gifts, dreidels and fried foods.

New Years was next with the appropriate revelry.

Then, a pause for a dignified remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr.

Valentines, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, April Fools, and The Fourth of July were all checkpoints along the way.  But, like the proverbial frog in a stockpot, the heat is being turned up and no one seems to notice.

Nowadays, Halloween is blended with “back-to-school”, Thanksgiving has gone the way of the dodo, and, if my predictions are correct, we will soon see a line of Easter themed, candy hearts in stores for Valentine’s day or people dressing as Santa Claus for Halloween.

Even worse, we may see the blending of holiday names into unholy, inbred marketing unions:

Hanukwanzamas.

St. Eastentine’s Day.

The Fools of July.

Oh The Madness!

When will it end?

This year, however, there is an overlap that I feel is most appropriate.

Thanksgiving blends with Advent.

The first Sunday of Advent falls on the weekend of Thanksgiving.

Isn’t that perfect?

Doesn’t a holiday dedicated to thanking God for His amazing provision flow seamlessly into a season of praising God for sending His Son?

After all, THAT is an expression of God’s ultimate provision.

In fact, of the four Sundays of Advent (Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy), has anyone noticed the conspicuous absence of “Thanks”?

Why? 

I believe that it’s because thankfulness is assumed.  If God has given you hope, peace, love, and joy, you would think that one would be thankful.

So that’s my “Thanksgidvent” hope for me, and for you.

That as we sit and enjoy our turkey and football (you can’t forget football!), no matter how humble or princely the meal, that we would remember the pinnacle of God’s provision, Jesus Christ.

And we’d give thanks.

To read more from Adam, check out his blog, Toy Train New Toothbrush.